Zaina holds a B.S. in Biological Engineering from MIT and is currently pursuing an MD-PhD at UCSF and UC Berkeley as a member of the Fletcher Lab. Her research focuses on developing low-cost, accessible diagnostics for neglected tropical diseases. Specifically, she is working on creating assays compatible with the NTDScope, the lab’s portable microscope, for diseases such as Loa Loa, Schistosomiasis, and Soil Transmitted Helminths. Outside of the lab, Zaina enjoys crocheting, working out, and exploring the Bay Area’s food scene. She is also a proud plant mom!
Archives: Explorers
Mihir Amit Marathe
Mihir grew up in the Bay Area, and is a third year undergraduate student studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS). He is currently working with Professor Kris Pister on using MEMS to develop novel microrobots. In the past, he has worked on materials science research where he investigated optoelectronic properties of various heterostructures and monolayers. His research interests include combining the fields of robotics and microprocessor design to make devices that can help with energy efficiency and minimally invasive surgeries. In his free time, he loves to watch and play basketball and go for hikes.
Matthew Falcone
Matthew (he/him) is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and PhD student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley. He earned a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech, where his thesis focused on using numerical modeling to assess tidal energy resources. In addition to research in environmental fluid mechanics, Matthew is pursuing Designated Emphases in Computational and Data Science and Engineering, as well as Global Metropolitan Studies. Matthew’s current research focus is on the hydrodynamics of coastal ecosystems and the role aquatic vegetation can play in coastal resiliency and climate change adaptation. More specifically, he uses physics-based models and observations to study the attenuation of ocean waves in the nearshore coastal environment.
Matthew enjoys teaching and has helped to teach both undergraduate and graduate students about engineering topics ranging from climate change to fluid mechanics. When not teaching or researching, the natural environment still plays an important role in Matthew’s life, as he likes to spend his free time exploring the outdoors.
Nicole Goridkov
Nicole Goridkov (she/her) is a PhD student in the mechanical engineering department at UC Berkeley. As a member of the Co-Design lab, advised by Prof. Kosa Goucher-Lambert, her main research interests include human-centered design thinking and design for sustainability. Specifically, she works on using computational tools to make sustainability principles more accessible to engineers and designers. Nicole graduated with a BS in mechanical engineering from MIT. In her free time, she enjoys baking, playing tennis, and growing plants.
Taylor Waddell
Taylor is a 4th year PhD Student in Mechanical Engineering who specializes in 3D printing in space. Taylor is also a NASA engineer at the Kennedy Space Center, where he works on developing tools and equipment for the upcoming moon missions. Taylor did his undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is an avid maker, a fan of all things space, and focused on bringing STEAM to local communities.
Yiyang Zhi
Yiyang Zhi is a graduate student in the EECS department advised by Professor Ming C. Wu. His research focuses on integrated optics co-fabricated with control electronics for trapped ions systems. Individual ionic species confined and addressed by electromagnetic fields are a promising platform for quantum information, sensing, and computation due to high operation fidelity and long coherence time. He is developing an architecture that embodies a pathway towards scaling up while preserving key performance metrics. Outside of the lab, Yiyang enjoys playing basketball and hosting events for Photobears, a professional joint student chapter of SPIE, Optica, and IEEE Photonics Society.
Jonas Frantisek Plichta
Jonas is a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at UC Berkeley. His passions for nature preservation and space exploration, while seemingly opposite, both drive him toward a common goal of advancing society toward a more sustainable future.
In an effort to progress his goal, Jonas has recently begun researching the risk to lunar structures from seismic events. This involves using seismic data from the Apollo missions and computational simulations to predict and mitigate potential damage to infrastructure on the moon, supporting the safe development of future lunar bases.
In his free time, Jonas enjoys backpacking, traveling, and spending time outdoors. He also avidly tends to a home garden, which provides a rewarding break from his studies.
Krisco Cheuk Yee Cheung
I was born and raised in Canada and received my BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto. Currently, I am a PhD student in the UC Berkeley and UCSF joint bioengineering program. At Ritchie Chen’s lab at UCSF, I am interested in developing molecular tools for neurological disorders. Outside of the lab, I like playing badminton, cooking, and am trying to learn how to windsurf!
Veena Shankar Avadhani
Hailing from India, I completed my undergraduate studies at IISER Tirupati and am currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry under Prof. Evan Williams. My research interests are centered around exploring the use of a promising new technique called Charge Detection Mass Spectrometry (CDMS) that is capable of weighing Mega Dalton-sized molecules like viruses, nanoparticles, large polymer assemblies, and biomolecular aggregates – a category of analytes inaccessible to conventional mass spectrometry. I am currently involved in elucidating structural properties of DNA origami assemblies using our home-built CDMS instrument. Collaboration being the heart of our research practice (we are welcome to more!), I am also engaged with other projects involving characterization of nanoplastic waste, and polymers used in pesticides. In my leisure time, I can be seen playing racquet sports and dancing to Bollywood songs. I love socializing and making new friends – so next time you meet someone who knows “Veena” – they are probably referring to me 🙂
Trinav Chaudhuri
I’m a junior at UC Berkeley studying Computer Science and Molecular and Cellular Biology. My project is developing a simultaneous pipeline to perform both calcium and voltage imaging operations, to improve brain imaging quality. By combining the two pipelines, we can utilize the combined results to improve both tests individually, in hopes of optimizing both imaging techniques. I enjoy the ability to combine both my fields of study, and participate in research dedicated to making beneficial technologies more widely available and easier to use. In my free time, I love playing, and watching sports, spend a lot of time listening to music, and enjoy reading to wind down.